A FAMILY BUSINESS, ROOTED IN ESSEX
Meet James and Jack, Your Local Essex Locksmiths
We’re the father-and-son team behind Lockout 24/7. Established in April 2003, our family business helps homeowners and businesses across Essex with lockouts, lock repairs and better security.
Whether you need help with a faulty door mechanism or a replacement lock, you’ll be dealing with James or Jack — the people carrying out the work.
A family business, built on years of experience
James began learning locksmithing around 2000, accompanying a friend in the trade and fitting his training around shifts in the London fire service. Before and after night shifts, and on his days off, he developed the practical skills that would become the foundation of the business.
In April 2003, James established Lockout 24/7. Locksmithing continued alongside his fire-service career, with work ranging from helping people back into their homes to repairing doors and replacing locks.
Jack joined James in 2019, learning through formal courses and hands-on experience on the road. He began handling jobs independently around 2021. Today, we work together to help domestic and commercial customers throughout Essex.
Meet the people behind the work
Two locksmiths, one family business. We bring practical experience and a personal approach to helping customers with their locks and doors.
James
Founder & Locksmith
James founded Lockout 24/7 after beginning his locksmith training around 2000. His experience includes repairing uPVC and composite door mechanisms, as well as the carpentry involved in fitting and replacing locks on wooden doors.
Having combined locksmithing with a 25-year fire-service career, James is used to helping people in difficult situations. He retired from the fire service in 2025 and continues working with Jack to help customers across Essex.
Jack
Locksmith
Jack began learning the trade with James in 2019, combining courses with practical experience at customers’ homes and businesses. He trained with the UK Locksmiths Association that year and began working independently around 2021.
His work includes lock repairs and replacements, alongside repairs to uPVC and composite door mechanisms. Learning on the road gave Jack experience of the everyday problems customers face, from a troublesome door to a lock that needs replacing.
James during his fire-service career.
A background in helping people
James spent 25 years in the fire service before retiring in 2025. Throughout much of that time, he was also developing and running the locksmith business.
That experience is part of his story. When someone is locked out or concerned about their home’s security, a calm explanation and practical help can make a difficult day easier.
Supporting people across Essex
For around 15 years, James has worked with Essex Guardians, helping improve home security for older and vulnerable people and safeguard their property.
We also work with a number of local estate agents across Essex, providing locksmith services for the properties they manage. Alongside our work for individual homeowners and businesses, these relationships are an established part of what we do.
Practical skills. Clear reassurance.
Our work covers both domestic and commercial properties. Alongside lock fitting and replacement, we specialise in uPVC and composite door mechanism repairs and the carpentry needed to fit locks to wooden doors.
Essex roots, Essex-wide coverage
James was born in Maldon and Jack in Chelmsford. We’re based in Great Notley, near Braintree, and work across Essex, helping customers in towns and surrounding villages.
Our service areas include Braintree, Billericay, Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, Halstead, Witham, Harlow and Maldon. Visit our areas page to find your local locksmith service.
